Wildlife & Ecosystems

Investigating Threats to Chimps in Uganda

Earthwatch scientist Dr. Fred Babweteera studies human–primate interactions and works on public policy issues in his native Uganda.

What is your focus at the Budongo Reserve?

The key conservation projects include mitigation of human–wildlife conflict, mitigation of bushmeat hunting, development of community education programs, and establishment of zoonosis monitoring programs with an aim of making the Budongo Conservation Field Station the focal national center for monitoring the risk of disease transmission from humans to great apes.

A great moment in the field:

During my career as director of the Budongo Conservation Field Station, I have been able to transform a small informal research project (Budongo Forest Project) into a credible formal institution. Over the past 10 years, I have been able to broaden the scope of the field station from research to include conservation projects that improve local community livelihoods.

EDUCATION

D.Phil. in Tropical Forest Ecology and Conservation, University of Oxford (U.K.)